Texas senators praise Obama nominee for U.S. attorney

President Obama’s nomination of Judge John Stevens Jr. of Beaumont to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas is winning praise from Texas’ two Republican senators.

Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Dallas, and John Cornyn, R-San Antonio, played a behind the scenes role in Obama’s selection by having their Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee review and recommend Stevens for the law enforcement post.

“Given Judge Stevens’ extensive legal and judicial experience, Senator Cornyn and I proudly recommended him. Judge Stevens’ service to Jefferson County and the Eastern District makes him the right choice for U.S. attorney, Hutchison said.

Cornyn applauded Obama’s choice, adding: “After careful review of Judge Stevens’ impressive record and the input of our Democrat and Republican colleagues in the Texas congressional delegation, Sen. Hutchison and I were proud to recommend Judge Stevens to President Obama.”

Cornyn said the senators’ Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee was “an instrumental tool” in vetting prospective federal appoints to law enforcement posts and the federal bench. “Judge Stevens’ nomination is a fine example of the good work that can be done for Texas when we put partisanship aside and work together to make the best choice for Texas,” Sen. Cornyn said.

Daniel K. Hedges of Porter and Hedges LLP, chairman of bipartisan panel, said the panel had been “impressed” with Stevens’ “extensive prosecutorial experience and demonstrated ability,” adding: “He will be an outstanding United States Attorney for the people of the Eastern District.”